Cyclist wary of Rocks Rd route
BILL MOORE
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Cycling is more a way of life than a form of recreation for Stoke man Sam McEachern – and he's finding the temporary Rocks Rd traffic constraints a trial by motorist.
Mr McEachern, 45, uses a two-wheel and sometimes a three-wheel bike for almost all his daily travel needs. He'll happily cycle from his Stoke home to visit friends at the Glen or in Appleby.
He bikes not only to and from work, but to all his appointments as a member of the Nelson Marlborough Area Health Board's community mental health team. Not a racer and just an occasional mountainbike trail rider, he classes himself as a utilitarian cyclist, someone who uses a bike to get to where he wants to go, quickly and safely.
Although he owns a sports car and a van, he says he's only bought petrol twice since November.
He has recumbent tricycles, mountainbikes, a folding bike and several push-scooters. He's got a 1950s BSA and a 1970s Raleigh 20, and kick-bikes, which are like bicycles without pedals.
He's got a tandem with a clip-on child's bike that in years past he would use for outings with his two sons. He says when asked how many bikes he owns, he always answers, "Not enough."
A devotee of cycling since well before he moved to New Zealand from Scotland in 1991, Mr McEachern has a wealth of experience and is versed in the psychology of the road. His favourite bike at the moment is a recumbent model fitted with a clear fairing that not only improves his speed, but also makes it difficult for drivers to see that he's pedalling. That is important, he says, because if they think he's on an engine-powered vehicle he's given more respect and a wider berth.
The bike sports an L-plate, prompted by British research on driver behaviour showing that "if you look like a bit of a numpty, they stay out of your road".
He uses a bike for work, "to go to the shops, visit my pals or go to the beach. I reckon I do roughly 5000 kilometres a year, probably enough to be a prospect in a motorbike gang – and to keep me out of elasticated trousers."
No stranger to unpleasant exchanges with intolerant drivers, he says behaviour towards cyclists has worsened since the Rocks Rd slips brought about the narrowing of the lanes and special restrictions on cycling.
"You get people going past and shouting things out the window at you. As it transpires, about 30 seconds later I'm usually overtaking them, because they get stuck in a traffic jam."
He's finding himself avoiding Rocks Rd, even though he can easily wind his speed up to 45-50kmh to match the stream of traffic.
"I don't like conflict. I don't like getting into a shouting match with people, and I'll avoid it if I can."
Mr McEachern believes that motorists don't appreciate cyclists getting through the traffic quicker than them and resent them avoiding licence fees. Drivers think, "We pay for this road, we're letting you share it," he believes.
He thinks the weighted containers placed along Rocks Rd to protect against further slips are doing "a smashing job" but reckons they could be moved just enough to allow a safe southbound cycle lane. The busy footpath isn't suitable for northbound bikes, especially laden ones like his, and a short-term reduction in the speed limit at peak hours would address that.
The alternative bike route over Waimea Rd, meanwhile, is "not for the novice", Mr McEachern says, and a lot of riders use Rocks Rd because it's beautiful.
He was enjoying that ride on Sunday morning on an almost deserted road when he says he was photographed by someone in a Nelmac truck who yelled out "Smile" as he reached the traffic cones which block the northbound cycle lane and force riders into the lane used by cars and trucks.
"It kind of ruined my day. I was thinking, `What's the rationale for that?' The only thing I can think of is to intimidate. It sounds like something the boys made up at smoko on Friday afternoon."
And if intimidation was the goal, it worked, he said. He always uses Rocks Rd for his 8am Wednesday meeting in the city. Yesterday he changed his mind.
Nelmac, however, couldn't throw any light on the incident. Parks and reserves operations manager Robert Fryer said no such action had been assigned. Nelmac staff were encouraged to carry cameras to document their work and in this case it could have been a worker acting on the spur of the moment, he said.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Sometimes while driving on rocks road I always think "I'd hate to get hit with a flying rock or debre flying down from the cliffs"...if cyclists think the only danger is the car, think again and look up, you can argue with other motorists and whinge on about how special you are but good luck with mother nature, she doesn't care about your rights to be on that dangerous stretch. I used to bike rocks road but never felt save along that part where the land slides happened,I just changed my route through Victory. Better tired than dead, no amount of arguing will bring anyone back to life
THats what I thought, how is it that a man rides his bike to work and he makes the headline news in Nelson. It's not like he biked the entire length of country, it was just the entire length of rocks road and the media find great interest in this thus they have to make it a nelson news headline. My goodness it doesn't take much to get in the Nelson news, maybe if I roller blade the entire length of rocks road I'll make it on Nelson news and the front cover page of the paper lol especially if I were to fall over and break my hip like a old lady not like any one in Nelson would help me get back up but I'd make news for sure anyway
Bill - you have mis-quoted the NZ road code, the rule you quoted is for other motorised vehicles. The cyclist only has get as far left as possible and does not have to stop. The road code has this to say to motorists about cyclists. Quoted from the NZTA website ...
• Hazards like parked cars, potholes, glass, litter and opening car doors may cause cyclists to veer off-line and move into your path. Because of this, give cyclists plenty of room when passing them. Ideally, allow at least 1.5 metres between you and the cyclist.
• Wait for a clear space before passing a cyclist on a narrow road.
• At intersections, apply the same rules to cyclists that you would to any other vehicle on the road. Take care to indicate turns.
• Only drive across cycle lanes when entering or leaving side roads, driveways or parking spaces. If you are crossing a cycle lane, give way to cyclists before you cross.
• Take extra care around young cyclists.
• You must not drive in a cycle lane except for a maximum of 50 metres when entering or leaving side roads, driveways or parking spaces.
Ian Cooper#10 It's arrogant cyclists with your kind of attitude that bring all cyclists into disrepute. Excerpt below form the NZ road code! Slow drivers
If you are travelling slower than the speed limit and there are vehicles following you, you must: •keep as close to the left side of the road as possible •pull over as soon as it is safe to let following vehicles pass.
Don’t speed up on straight stretches of road to prevent following vehicles from passing you.
Why is this news? A guy rides a bike to work. Wow.
When I go out on the road, my choice of vehicle does not determine my access to it. If I choose my bicycle, I have the same road rights as anyone else. If I'm in front of other vehicles, they have to wait until it's safe to pass. It's the same when I'm behind another vehicle. That is the law and it's been that way for decades. If other road users want to travel in vehicles that take up nearly a whole lane width, it's their fault, not mine, if they get stuck behind me.
There is no right to a certain speed on the road. The right of way belongs to the person in the vehicle in front, and only he has the right to determine the traffic speed, based on his desire, his vehicle's top speed what's required by the law.
It is not 'arrogance' for a cyclist to travel at a normal cycling speed on the road. The arrogance is shown by those who demand that the cyclist give up his right to the road just so they can get to the next red light a few seconds earlier.
I bike from Richmond to work at the port and have decided to change the route I take home. This is for safety reasons and I also can't be bothered with the hassle of sharing the footpath with walkers and the stress of dealing with irate, inconsiderate drivers around Rock road. Because I bike so early in the morning I don't have any of the above issues to contend with.
I now bike to Richmond via St Vincent or Vanguard Rd onto the Railway Reserve. This is safer and far more peaceful than biking up Waimea Road which is just as bad as Rocks Road between 5-6PM.
From here I cycle down Beatson Rd, onto Whakatu Dr, up over the bridge and back down on the the reserve which pretty much takes me right to Richmond.
I choose safety first and for me this is the best route, its also less congested and a harder workout. This totally works for me, no stress no anxiety :)
And "Really" the signs don't say Rocks Road is closed to cyclist - it suggest an alternative route be taken. Cyclist are entitled to use this road JK is right in this respect.
Sanity #6: "Beatson's road is only suitable for the seriously fit."
Are you serious? It's a doddle, and it's far quieter and safer than the Rocks road option at the moment. I'm surprised the reporter made no mention of the Railway reserve option, and only mentioned Waimea Road. For bikers coming in from Stoke then the Annesbrook roundabout-Beatsons Road-Railway Reserve route is safe and direct - just think of the Beatson's road section as a gentle bit of uphill training =).
Rocks Road is a state highway and is open to cyclists under NZTA regulations and NZ law. Cyclists are currently *discouraged* from using the route due to the temporary conditions but it is up to the individual rider to make their own decision and the local council and police cannot force them to stay off that section of highway. NZTA notified council of this earlier in January and stated that they will not be changing the rules regarding cycle access to such routes.
Since cyclists are legal road users other vehicles will need to adapt in narrow areas, just as they must accommodate mowers, street cleaners and others who may be traveling slower than some car drivers might wish to go. Although you might not choose to ride a bike on a certain road, that does not negate others' freedom to do so. If you become confrontational with cyclists who are in their rights to be there, you shouldn't be surprised to receive the same back.
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I have no problem with cyclists on the roads. However there appear to be a few in Nelson that let the majority down with their arrogance. Over the long weekend I have witnessed cyclists on the "no cycle-lane" part of Rocks Road with no helmets, and others heading both North and South on the road not the footpath, one of these cyclist wasn't making any attempt to keep left. Really if you didn't get the first large sign how could you miss the next two that clearly explain where to get off the road and onto the footpath. ... and then its not the cyclists fault if theirs an accident.